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Record of Proceedings

Portage Planning Commission Approves Three Special Land Use Permits on Nov 6, 2025

Planning Commission — Thursday, November 6, 2025
BodyPortage, Michigan
SessionPlanning Commission
DateThursday, November 6, 2025
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 48:23

Transcript — Verbatim
0:02

Good evening, everyone, and welcome at this time.

0:05

Excuse me, a call to order.

0:07

This is the City of Portage Planning Commission meeting.

0:09

It is Thursday, November 6, 2025.

0:14

At this time, if we could all please stand for the Pledge of Allegiance.

0:25

And two Republicans.

0:28

One nation under God.

0:30

Indivisible Liberty and Justice for all.

0:36

Thank you all very much.

0:37

Next item on the agenda is the roll call.

0:40

Chair Corradini.

0:42

Here.

0:42

Vice Chair Baldwin.

0:45

Secretary Freiman.

0:47

Here.

0:47

Commissioner Adams.

0:48

Here.

0:49

Commissioner Cobb.

0:50

Here.

0:50

Commissioner Orwig.

0:51

Here.

0:52

Commissioner Fries.

0:53

Here.

0:53

Commissioner Ladd.

0:55

And Commissioner Crowwell.

0:57

Here.

0:58

All righty.

0:59

Next item would be the approval of minutes.

1:01

This would be our uh minutes from our October 2nd, 2025 meeting.

1:06

Uh is there any comments regarding the minutes?

1:13

Chairman.

1:14

Yes, sir.

1:15

Um I make a motion.

1:17

We approve the October 2nd, 200 2025 meeting minutes as presented.

1:24

Motion made and supported to approve the minutes.

1:27

All those in favor say aye.

1:28

Aye.

1:29

Anyone opposed?

1:30

All right.

1:32

First item on our agenda under our public hearings this evening is the special land use permit for the development of a new church at 4401 Bishop Avenue.

1:43

The podium is yours, sir.

1:45

Thank you, Chair.

1:47

Good evening, everyone.

1:48

For the record, my name is Eric Felt, planner with the City of Portage.

1:58

Proposal in front of you tonight is a special land use permit for establishing a religious institution at 4401 Bishop Avenue.

2:06

The applicant name is Margit Dualal on behalf of Gurdwara Singh Sabah of Kalmazou, who is also the property owner.

2:18

Looking at the vicinity map, you can see that the property is located near the east side of the city with pavilion township to the far right of the picture.

2:29

The property is located just east of South Sprinkle Road on the north side of Bishop Avenue.

2:35

You can see some major destinations to the far top left to the northwest.

2:43

And to the southwest, the Pfizer Pharmaceutical Campus.

2:48

As you zoom in to the neighborhood level, you can see a variety of businesses and land uses.

2:54

Starting starting with the property to the north is the SET environmental business.

2:59

To the east is Eurofin's Lancaster Laboratories.

3:03

Those are both properties within an industrial park.

3:07

Going to the southeast corner, you can see it's a developed uh residential neighborhood with single-family detached homes.

3:15

Directly south of the property across Bishop Avenue is an established soccer complex.

3:21

To the west of the site is an adventure learning center with education and daycare center facilities.

3:30

So looking at the site itself, it is relatively flat.

3:33

It's on a corner of Quality Way and Bishop Road.

3:36

It is just over six acres in size.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Zoning Regulations█████████████████████████████████████████████63%
Procedural███████████████21%
Community Engagement█████████12%
Public Engagement███4%
Summary of Proceedings

Portage Planning Commission Approves Three Special Land Use Permits on Nov 6, 2025

On Thursday, November 6, 2025, the City of Portage Planning Commission met and unanimously approved three special land use permits: a Gurdwara Sikh religious institution at 4401 Bishop Avenue, an indoor play area (SOAR and Bounce) at 669 Mall Drive, and an indoor pickleball facility (Pickle Rage) at 525 Romance Road. The commission also approved the October 2, 2025 meeting minutes and welcomed new Commissioner Anthony Ladd.

Consent Calendar / Minutes

  • The commission approved the October 2, 2025 meeting minutes as presented by voice vote with no opposition.

Public Comments & Testimony

  • No audience members spoke at any of the three public hearings.
  • For the Bishop Avenue church, staff had received a letter from a nearby resident expressing concerns; staff noted the same resident raised similar concerns during the prior submittal about a year earlier.
  • No public comments were received for the SOAR and Bounce or Pickle Rage proposals.

Discussion Items

4401 Bishop Avenue - Gurdwara Singh Sabah of Kalamazoo

  • Staff planner Eric Felt presented a request for a special land use permit for a proposed approximately 16,000-square-foot, single-story religious institution with about 100 parking spaces on a site of just over six acres.
  • The property is split-zoned, with the southern half OS-1 Service Office and the northern half I-1 Light Industrial; the religious institution is permitted only in the OS-1 district through the special land use permit process.
  • No outdoor functions are proposed. Staff assessed traffic and utility impacts as low and typical of a church, with peak volumes during infrequent hours.
  • Public notice was distributed around October 21 to property owners within 300 feet. The applicant said peak Sunday attendance is currently about 100 people.
  • A nearby resident's letter mentioned a 50-foot monument; the applicant said the monument height could be reduced if it was a concern.
  • Staff noted the same project had come before the commission about a year earlier and was approved with a site plan condition, but the applicant did not own the property then; the applicant has since purchased the property and filed this new application.
  • Staff recommended approval with a condition requiring submission of a complete site plan application, drawings, and fee under Section 42-481, with final planning commission review and approval.
  • Staff confirmed the special land use permit is valid for one year.
  • Note: The transcript shows a possible name discrepancy. Staff identified the applicant as Margit Dualal, but the applicant stated his name as Amaditko Dalibal.

669 Mall Drive - SOAR and Bounce

  • This request combined a special land use permit and site plan for redevelopment of an approximately 35,000-square-foot tenant space into an indoor play area, with the remainder of the building occupied by Dunham's Sports.
  • The proposal includes play stations, dodgeball, jump zones, slides, party rooms, a ropes course, climbing wall, basketball and soccer areas.
  • No exterior changes are proposed, and the existing approximately 400-space parking lot and access drives were found sufficient. No public comments were received.
  • Applicant Jared Lee said the owners plan to start work quickly and that opening depends on delivery of equipment. He said he would suggest annual memberships to the owners.

525 Romance Road - Pickle Rage

  • This request combined a special land use permit and site plan for an indoor recreation facility with 10 proposed pickleball courts, a lounge, offices, retail space, lockers, storage, and a mezzanine in an approximately 49,000-square-foot tenant space within the Shops at Romance Village.
  • The proposal involves interior renovations only; staff found no negative neighborhood, traffic, or utility impacts because operations are indoors, and existing parking and the landscape buffer mitigate concerns. No public comments were received.
  • Applicant Keith Goodridge/Robin Goodrich said court rates are still being determined, with walk-in play likely around $15 per hour and lower rates for members. Construction could start the following week, with a possible January/February 2026 opening.
  • The applicant confirmed the facility will have an AED and CPR-certified staff.

Commissioner Comments and Announcements

  • New Commissioner Anthony Ladd introduced himself as a civil engineer and Portage resident of four years.
  • Commissioners offered condolences regarding two Portage Northern students killed in an accident and a former Western Michigan University/Dallas Cowboys player who died, and celebrated recent Portage Central athletic achievements.

Key Outcomes

  • Motion to approve the 4401 Bishop Avenue special land use permit passed by voice vote with no opposition, including the staff-recommended site plan condition.
  • Motion to approve the 669 Mall Drive special land use permit and site plan passed by voice vote with no opposition.
  • Motion to approve the 525 Romance Road special land use permit and site plan passed by voice vote with no opposition.
  • The next Portage Planning Commission meeting is scheduled for Thursday, November 20, 2025, subject to cancellation.

Meeting Transcript

Good evening, everyone, and welcome at this time. Excuse me, a call to order. This is the City of Portage Planning Commission meeting. It is Thursday, November 6, 2025. At this time, if we could all please stand for the Pledge of Allegiance. And two Republicans. One nation under God. Indivisible Liberty and Justice for all. Thank you all very much. Next item on the agenda is the roll call. Chair Corradini. Here. Vice Chair Baldwin. Secretary Freiman. Here. Commissioner Adams. Here. Commissioner Cobb. Here. Commissioner Orwig. Here. Commissioner Fries. Here. Commissioner Ladd. And Commissioner Crowwell. Here. All righty. Next item would be the approval of minutes. This would be our uh minutes from our October 2nd, 2025 meeting. Uh is there any comments regarding the minutes? Chairman. Yes, sir. Um I make a motion. We approve the October 2nd, 200 2025 meeting minutes as presented. Motion made and supported to approve the minutes. All those in favor say aye. Aye. Anyone opposed? All right. First item on our agenda under our public hearings this evening is the special land use permit for the development of a new church at 4401 Bishop Avenue. The podium is yours, sir. Thank you, Chair. Good evening, everyone. For the record, my name is Eric Felt, planner with the City of Portage. Proposal in front of you tonight is a special land use permit for establishing a religious institution at 4401 Bishop Avenue. The applicant name is Margit Dualal on behalf of Gurdwara Singh Sabah of Kalmazou, who is also the property owner. Looking at the vicinity map, you can see that the property is located near the east side of the city with pavilion township to the far right of the picture. The property is located just east of South Sprinkle Road on the north side of Bishop Avenue. You can see some major destinations to the far top left to the northwest. And to the southwest, the Pfizer Pharmaceutical Campus.

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